Distribution of angular misclosure

Angles are usually read in a traverse and these angles are adjusted prior to the calculation of the bearings. The rule for determing the sum of the interior angles of any polygon is:

(n-2)180° where n = the number of sides. In a triangle this is (3-2)180° = 180°.

When there are four sides (4-2)180° = 360°

In a closed traverse we generally read the internal angles.

The exterior angles can be calculated, and are equal to

n ´ 360° - å interior angles.

if n = 4, then
      = 4 ´ 180 + 360

        = 1080°

See a worked example of:

A closed traverse.

An open traverse.